This species occurs in arid environments on desolate rocky and stony hillsides, in wadis and cliffs (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It requires some vegetation cover and is thus rarely found in sandy places (Jennings 2010). While it is able to persist without water for long periods, it readily visits water sources when available, where flocks of up to 70 individuals may congregate (Jennings 2010). During the hottest time of the day, it hides in shady places under rocks and vegetation, and is only active around sunrise and sunset (Jennings 2010). The species is intolerant of any disturbance and very shy; thus it generally avoids proximity to humans and only occasionally visits open, cultivated landscapes for foraging (Jennings 2010). It feeds mainly on insects, but may also take leaves, fruits and even human food scraps (Jennings 2010). There is not much known about its breeding biology. In spring, males occupy and aggressively defend territories, and pairs are forming (Jennings 2010). It is assumed that nests are hidden in rock crevices, and clutches contain up to 15 eggs (Jennings 2010). While in central Arabia, adults with chicks have mostly been observed from March to July, records of small chicks from Oman in August suggest that also the population in the UAE might breed fairly late (Jennings 2010). It is likely that males and females raise separate broods (Jennings 2010).